Review of Little Buddha (1993) by Diego T — 03 Sep 2011

First off, if you want to watch a movie where Keanu is something other than a "dude" and a robot, then this is the film for you. I actually got to see some potentially great acting. I say potentially because well his accent as a Tibetan isn't great, but luckily he only had a few lines and the entire movie isn't based on HIM persay but on Buddha.

It's an inspiring story of a Lama looking for the reincarnation of a fellow Lama. He ends up in Seattle and affects Jesse's (the candidate as the reincarnation of the Lama) family. It's really a film about Siddhartha and his journey of becoming Buddha.

And so it's a flip-flop between the journey of Siddhartha and the journey of jesse's family. They both somehow connect. Anyways, it is a '90s film, so there isn't much to expect from quality of script and direction.

But, it's still a great story. So if you've ever been interested in Buddhism then this is the film for you to watch as a first step stone to understanding Buddhism. *Disclaimer - Keanu does wear "black" face in order to play a Tibetan and some did find this racist/insulting.

However, I would like to remind those that find it discriminating that "black" face has been going on since the beginning of theater (think Ancient Greece) and that during this time Anthony Hopkins himself wore "black" face to play Othello in Julie Taymor's Othello.

I bring up Hopkins because I consider him a respectful and decent man and would never play something or say something that would offend anyone. So, there's my two cents, do with it as you will. :).